Review

Richard Wagner
Prelude to Act III from "Lohengrin":

Arranged by Randall Malmstrom

Brass Ensemble; Brass Choir: 3 B-flat trumpets, 4 F horns, 2 tenor trombones, bass trombone, tuba, timpani

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2020
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 6+ brass (choir)

Randall Malmstrom has a well-deserved reputation as a talented, creative and prolific arranger for trombones as well as other brass. Jay Friedman has written a large trombone choir version, and there is a Wagner medley for 10-part brass choir with timpani by James Haynor entitled “Viva Wagner!” However, this well written arrangement of the Prelude to Act III from "Lohengrin"appears to be the only brass ensemble version available, one of my favorite works. It was one of the first orchestral recordings I ever heard as a young musician, making an indelible impression on me forever.

If you have prepared the excerpt from the opera for an audition you will notice that the trombone parts in this arrangement are almost identical to the original, with the addition of bassoon and other orchestra parts. This is a delightful way to prepare, learn and perform this important mainstay of our repertoire. As with many of Randall’s arrangements the writing is on the highest professional level, challenging hornists especially. I am always impressed by his writing and transcribing skills. This is a detailed, extremely accurate complex arrangement in the original key. It will be well worth your efforts to prepare this, a guaranteed crowd pleaser, rewarding for performers too. A midi version of the arrangement can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwfh25uWgvw.